Bebop Spoken There

Ron Carter quoting Sonny Rollins: ''What we call jazz - that's keeping the world in equilibrium. I don't care what kind of music you like out here today. It all comes from jazz.'' (DownBeat August, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18799 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 663 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Aug. 12) 32.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

From This Moment On

August

Fri 14: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 14: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 14: John Settle Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00. John Settle (vibes); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 14: Bold Big Band @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £8.00 + bf.

Sat 15: Tees Bay Swing Band @ Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 15: Jake Leg Jug Band @ The White Room, Stanley. 7:45pm. £16.26.

Sun 16: Vintage Explosion @ Cliffe Park, Roker, Sunderland SR6 8DB. 5:00-10:30pm. £44.00 (inc. bf).

Mon 17: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 18: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 19: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 19: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 20: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 20: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 20: Edson Angus Quartet @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Thu 20: Paul Skerritt @ Angels' Share, St George's Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2SX. 8:00pm. Free. Booking advised (0191 200 1975). Skerritt w. backing tapes.

Monday, June 20, 2022

Dean Stockdale Trio @ the Railway, Stockport - June 19

(© Jeff Pritchard)
Dean Stockdale (keys); Gavin Barras (bass); Gaz Hughes (drums)

Things got underway tonight with a medium tempo version of Thelonious Monk’s blues, Blue Monk and although Dean was playing his Nord keyboard he got the sound just about as near to a good piano sound as it’s possible to get. With a first rate rhythm team of Gavin Barras and Gaz Hughes on board the scene was set for some excellent modern jazz and that is what this trio produced. 

Dean is a big fan of the great piano genius Oscar Peterson and he included in tonight’s show of twelve tunes no less than three compositions by the Canadian pianist. Hymn To Freedom, Bossa Beguine and Blues for the Prairie were well received by the near-capacity audience.


The rest of the show contained a mixture of familiar standards, tunes from the be-bop era and an original by Dean entitled Mia’s Lullaby. There was also a very fine rendition of the Oscar Pettiford classic Tricotism which not many pianists attempt as it is a real finger-buster but Dean made me think that more tunes like this at a fast tempo would be a good move, albeit a challenge for many other pianists.


The next jazz night at the Railway is on June 21 with guitarist Trefor Owen - Mike Farmer

 

Blue Monk; I’m Old Fashioned; Hymn to Freedom; It Could Happen to You; Mia’s Lullaby; Bossa Beguine; Blues for the Prairie; Oleo; Beautiful Love; Tricotism; My Romance; On the Sunny Side of the Street.

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